Former Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam came out to the entire country on Sunday and could become the first openly gay player in America's most popular sport.

Written by

Gwen Knapp
| USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell could use it right about now. The slogan "It's the economy, stupid" doesn't precisely meet the NFL commissioner's needs, but it will suffice. Goodell isn't working with people who traffic in a lot of nuance.

Whenever he finished reading Sports Illustrated's anonymous quotes from eight NFL execs and coaches about Missouri defensive end Michael Sam's decision to disclose publicly that he is gay, the most profoundly capitalist valves in his heart must have seized up. The SI survey indicated that all eight saw Sam ...